Some forty members of Thessaloniki’s Friends of the Sea Club (OFT) rowed the city’s coast dressed as Santa Claus, in the spirit of a Christmas tradition known as Santa Rowing.

Delighting the many children but also adults who happened to witness the event, the rowers “engage in the festive custom every year just ahead of Christmas to cheer people up, to spread some joy, to offer a pleasant performance, but also to support a charity or a volunteers’ association”, said Nikos Gountoulas of the Coastal Rowing Club Thessaloniki.

This year’s Santa Rowing was supported by the Greek Children’s Village – Filiro, which is located in the suburban village of Filiro, 10km northeast from the city of Thessaloniki.